Tea urchin s 2013 yiwu blend Moacha that Eugene and Belle where nice enough to include with my Last order.The aroma of this tea is dynamic. When I initially opened the sample bag I remember thinking it having a very herbal medicine like smell. This morning the aroma had changed to a raisin/ apricot smell. Once water hit leaves the lid of my Gaiwan smelled more like candied oranges. The taste was more along the lines of a creamsicle with a creamy body to match. I am very glad I choose this for my first tea of 2013.

Yesterday I tried the Chen Yuan Hao 2007 Yi wu cha Wang. Reminds me of a younger Truely SImply Elegant. Very pure and clean a great tea for a non Puerh drinker . But with all that fresh pure feeling and great energy there is not enough kick and forrest floor in the mix to make it worth the price tag for some one like me who likes his Puerh with some dirt, tobacco, and possibly some cellar floor notes in it.

2010 bing dao yi hao by meng dai sample from tea urchin. For 288 usd / cake it would have to be pretty special to trigger a purchase. It is good, really good, but not that good. I understand the hype of these kinds of cakes, and suspect it isn't unfounded, but just have decided not to buy into it. Maybe in 20 years I'll be sorry.

Of all the samples from tea urchin I've tried so far I really like the shun shi yi wu 2006. And at 76 usd / cake it's a better value IMO.

tenuki wrote:2010 bing dao yi hao by meng dai sample from tea urchin. For 288 usd / cake it would have to be pretty special to trigger a purchase. It is good, really good, but not that good. I understand the hype of these kinds of cakes, and suspect it isn't unfounded, but just have decided not to buy into it. Maybe in 20 years I'll be sorry.

Of all the samples from tea urchin I've tried so far I really like the shun shi yi wu 2006. And at 76 usd / cake it's a better value IMO.

One of the interesting things about the Bingdao tea I have, 2009 Bingdao Tea Refining Factory, is the lack of aroma and flavor for the first several brews. The huigan is very noticeable and so is the astringent quality. I would say sometime after 10-15 brews, this tea starts to deliver flavor and power that seem to go on for a very long time. Long lasting huigan and an uplifting feeling in the body. Very clean and clear. These teas are still very young. Tea Urchin has many good teas. Their Guafengzhai and luoshuidong are excellent.

Some loose shu/sheng from across the street. This blend is a mix of cakes that broke apart in storage and is their priciest loose pu erh. After six months of airing out, it is sweet and sour with a touch of date. Really very nice. I'll have to pick up some more and let it air out since the bag is almost empty. Since I kept reaching for this bag and I enjoy it so much, I know it's worth picking up more!

A couple of days ago I was serving 2002 Liming BZ brick for the once a week Friday morning tea session at work and everyone seemed to enjoy it. Yesterday, I tried the 2009 Douji BZ which I haven't touched for more than a year. It was disappointing saying the least. It got some hint of BZ favour and that's about it, but no BZ texture, taste huigan etc. Am I asking too much from a cake selling at eyes watering price of over 1600 rmb? It tastes a bit like 2012 Dayi Longyi.

Today, it is 2001 Dingxing and I can't remember when I last had it. It is ok. Evening using over 11g of leaves in a 100ml gaiwan, it tastes rather bland.

apache wrote: Am I asking too much from a cake selling at eyes watering price of over 1600 rmb? It tastes a bit like 2012 Dayi Longyi.

And you can buy the 2012 Longyin for 800 RMB, 1/2 the price! What a freakin bargain...

Mmm ..., very good idea. In fact for every freakin expensive gushu, single mountian, Yiwu or BZ cake, there is always a "cheaper" Dayi alternative and why bother with all those so called boutique cakes!

ending my day with a nice 90s Xiaguan brick. This brick has become one of my favorite shou. good mouthfeel, creamy soup and a musty leather sweetness with a touch of camphor and hui guan - which I usually don't find in a shou. mellow grounding chi, great for a end of day tea.